Masayoshi Morinaga – Japanese aviation specialist After graduating from Kyushu University with mechanical engineering degree in Japan, Masayoshi Morinaga started his career in public service at the Department of Transportation in Japan. He investigated train accidents, test drove new cars, but his love was in aviation. He enjoyed visiting the NASM when he visited Washington D.C. His career highlights in aviation are:

1) He flew Japan’s self-defense force’s F106 fighter jet as a passenger while he was on detail at the Defense department in 1965.

2) He was the chief investigator when Lieutenant Viktor Belenko of Soviet Air Defense Forces defected to Hakodate by flying his Mig-25P in 1976.

3) He was invited by Pan Am to fly Boeing 747 SP which was the first nonstop flight from Tokyo to New York in 1976.

4) He was invited by Air France to fly Concord from France to New York in 1977

5) He was the chief investigator for the Japan Airline’s Flight 715 (McDonnel Douglas DC 8-62H) crash in Malaysia in 1977.

Masayoshi Morinaga received a medal from the Emperor of Japan for his public service in 2000.